Recent years have seen far more visibility for Trans* people in media & politics in many parts of the world. But as we know from changemakers working in this area, visibility has yet to translate fully into liberation & full citizenship.

Ashoka’s Nico Pablo spoke with Dr. Akkai Padmashali about her approach to building a world that works for all of us. As co-founder of Ondede, she has been trailblazing new paths for India’s sexual minorities to lead change and build political power. In this conversation, she reflected on the advances made over the last 25 years and spoke about the work that remains. You can listen to the full conversation here. Here are a few highlights:

Change is happening

Akkai started us off with some context on the realities that India’s sexual minorities have been experiencing over the last 25 years or so.

Thanks to movements like the one Akkai co-founded and to the new generations of changemakers that have come since, things are changing rapidly.

Building bridges to other movements

Akkai’s organization, Ondede, was born on November 20, 2014, a symbolic date commemorating the Trans Day of Remembrance, honoring the memory of trans people who lost their lives to transphobia. They advocate for sexual minority rights, address sexual & domestic violence, and have been a key voice in outlawing colonial-era homophobic laws. From the get-go, it was clear to Akkai that the fate of sexual minorities was tied up with that of all excluded groups in society. Here’s how the organization was built in coalition with allied movements, such as those advancing the rights of children and women:

Working with the police

Akkai worked as a sex worker for four years. Here she shares her own story of abuse by –and reconciliation with– the police (trigger warning): 

These experiences gave her critical insights into transforming the police’s culture of violence and discrimination. Here’s how it works:

Liberation and self-determination go hand in hand

Akkai recently adopted a child. As a mother, she is intent on letting her child decide their own sex and gender when they are ready. Self-determination and self-acceptance go hand in hand.

Akkai closed the conversation by reminding us that Trans* liberation is intimately tied to the liberation of all oppressed groups. “I am here not only for Trans* liberation, but for the liberation of every human being.”

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Listen to the full conversation here. Follow Ondede & Dr. Akkai Padmashali on Facebook.

Trans* indicates the inclusion of other gender identities such as gender-fluid, agender, etc. alongside transgender and transsexual.